Shoulder brace

ABSTRACT

A shoulder brace is provided with two support members each attached at one of its ends to a belt of adjustable length worn about the torso of the user. The support members extend diagonally upwardly across opposite sides of the body whereby their opposite ends are positioned outwardly and above the user&#39;s torso. The support members pass through a sleeve adapted to rest on the shoulder of an arm to be supported by the brace. The respective opposite ends of the support members are joined to a support bar from which an arm-receiving sleeve is suspended. By adjustment of the lengths of the support members and by selective bending of said members, the shoulder brace is adapted to fit different body sizes and to suspend the user&#39;s arm in a desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an arm support device, and in particular, to ashoulder brace for holding the arm away from the side of the body.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A number of braces have been developed to position the shoulder in aparticular orientation and/or to hold the arm away from the body. Suchbraces commonly are used to support a fractured or otherwise injured armin a proper healing position relative to the body. Necessarily, theyoften are worn for long periods of time to allow for adequate healing.For example, a shoulder brace may be required for as long as a number ofweeks.

Conventional shoulder braces have a number of disadvantages. Theytypically are heavy, uncomfortable and must be made in many sizes toprovide an adequate fit for different sized people. Conventional bracesalso have several points of attachment to the body and cover asubstantial portion of the torso with straps and other securing devices,thus limiting the user's freedom of movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shoulderbrace that is of light weight and comfortable to wear. Additionally, itis an object to provide a brace that is easily adjustable and can fit awide range of body sizes. A still further object of the invention is toprovide a brace that has limited contact with the body, thus allowingthe user freedom of movement and permitting air circulation over theuser's skin.

In accordance with the present invention, the shoulder brace suspendsthe arm in cantilevered fashion from above, rather than supporting itfrom below. The brace has two support members each attached at one ofits ends to a belt worn about the torso of the user. The members extenddiagonally upwardly across opposite sides of the body in the directionof the arm to be supported. The members pass through a sleeve whichrests on the shoulder of the arm to be supported. The free ends of thesupport members, located outwardly of the user's torso, are attached toa rod of adjustable length from which the user's arm is suspended.

Advantages of the present invention are that the brace is lightweightand easily adjustable to most body sizes. Also, substantially all of theuser's torso is exposed to air circulation. Thus, the brace is effectivein the treatment of body burns where the arm must be supported so as tominimize contact with the patient's chest and side. The highlyadjustable nature of the invention also makes the device effective inthe treatment of upper extremity fractures or neurovascular injury aboutthe shoulder. The brace additionally lends itself useful in recoveryfrom reconstructive shoulder and elbow surgery.

Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure, and the combination of parts and economics ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the invention, the appended claims andthe accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts in the various figures of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a conventional shoulder brace;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention in use;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the invention shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view, partially in section, of anadjustment device which is an element of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improvements achieved the by present invention can be appreciated byfirst considering the shortcomings of typical prior art shoulder braces.

A convention shoulder brace, shown in FIG. 1, is generally referred toas an "aeroplane splint". It has an attachment portion 10 which isstrapped about the trunk of an individual. The attachment portioncomprises one or more members having a shape approximating that of thebody and extending from the axilla (arm pit) to the hip. These membersextend from substantially the front center of the body, around one side,under the arm, to the center of the back. The attachment portion issecured to the body by a number of adjustable straps 12 which extendaround the torso and over the shoulders. A rigid arm support member 14is pivotally connected to the upper attachment portion 10. Member 14extends from a position proximate the arm pit away from the body tosupport an arm strapped to the top of the member. Thus, the arm restsupon the support member 14. A strut 16 of adjustable length extendsbetween the arm support member 14 and the attachment portion 10 tocorrectly position member 14.

The shoulder brace according to the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 2-5. The brace supports arm 18 of the user by suspending the armfrom at least two support members 20, 22. Members 20 and 22 are attachedat respective ends 21, 23 to a belt in a manner to be detailedhereinafter. The belt preferably comprises an adjustable counter balancestrap 24, the ends of which are connected to a support strap 26 to whichthe ends 21 and 23 of the support members are connected.

The belt formed by straps 24 and 26 fits about a person's torso. Thestraps are made of leather, nylon or other suitable material and asrequired, they may include appropriate padding to accommodate forces tothe body applied at different portions of the belt. The respective ends21 and 23 of support members 20, 22 are removably or fixedly connectedadjacent opposite ends of the support strap 26 by attachment meanscommon in the art. For example, they may be received in pockets (notshown) provided on the outer surface of the support strap 26.

From strap 26, the support members 20, 22 extend diagonally upwardlyacross opposite sides of the body towards the shoulder of the arm to besupported. The support members are curved to conform to the body'scontour. The members may be made of metal tubing, such as aluminum.Alternatively, they can be plastic, such as resin impregnated withstrengthening fibers, e.g., fiberglass. Metal support members arepreferred because they are bendable to allow for more accurate fittingof the brace to conform to a person's torso.

The support member 20 is attached to the rear end of strap 26. Forexample, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, member 20 extends from abovethe left buttock around the user's left side and then diagonallyupwardly across the chest past the front of the right shoulder. Supportmember 22 is attached to the support strap 26 forwardly of member 20,and it extends around the left side of the user and then diagonallyupwardly across the back past the rear of the right shoulder. Thesupport members cross on one side of the user's torso where they passthrough an adjustment device 28. Device 28 is a solid member, preferablymade of metal or hard plastic, having separate passages drilled orformed therein to receive the respective support members in a snug butadjustable relationship. Thumb screws, or other conventional lockingdevices (not shown), are incorporated into the adjustment device 28 sothat the support members may be retained in selected positions relativeto device 28.

The support members 20 and 22 extend at their opposite ends beyond thewearer's shoulder and are connected to a support bar 30 which extendssubstantially perpendicular to the support members' axes at the pointsof connection. A tubular sleeve 32 is suspended from the support bar 30.The sleeve preferably is made of a fabric which provides comfortablesupport for a user's forearm 34. When the forearm 34 is placed throughthe sleeve 32 and rests thereon, the arm is suspended from the supportbar, rather than being supported from underneath. Consequently, theunderside of the upper arm, the armpit and side of the torso areaccessible, rather than being covered with the complex and bulkyunderarm support structure which characterizes prior art shoulderbraces.

The arm-supporting end of the shoulder brace is maintained incantilevered relationship with the shoulder associated with thesuspended arm, More particularly, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, thesupport members 20 and 22 pass through a sleeve 36, preferably fabric,configured to rest on the right shoulder of the user.

An adjustable handgrip is associated with the forward end of the supportbar 39. The handgrip comprises a U-shaped member 38 which is positionedin a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of support bar 30. The spacedlegs of member 38 generally face in the direction of the user such thatthe lower leg 40 can be grasped by the hand associated with thesupported arm. The upper leg 42 of member 38 is secured to a tubularelement 44 which is dimensioned to function in telescoping operativerelationship with support bar 30. By conventional adjustment means, thehandgrip can be selectively positioned relative to bar 30 so as tocomfortably accommodate the user's arm length.

The sleeve 32 and the handgrip arrangement just described permit theuser to release the hand from leg 40 of member 38 and flex the elbowwhereby the hand can move towards the user's face.

The shoulder brace just described is fully adjustable so that it can fita wide variety of body shapes. This is accomplished by altering theeffective length of the support members. To do so, the strap 24 isadjustable so as to be securable at different locations along the torsoof the user. Also, the members 20 and 22 can be bent when they areformed of tubular metal, and movement of the support members 20 and 22relative to the adjustment device 28 provides an additional means tochange the effective lengths of the support members thereby permittingthe desired orientation of the arm and shoulder to be achieved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoulder brace adapted to be secured to auser's torso and configured to permit the suspension of an arm of theuser therefrom, said brace comprising:first and second substantiallyrigid elongated support members; means for securing each of said membersat one of its ends, to the user's torso at a location adjacent one sideof the torso; said first and second members extending from said endsdiagonally upwardly across respective front and back portions of theuser's torso to locations at which opposite ends of said substantiallyrigid members are positioned above and laterally outwardly of the user'storso on the opposite side thereof; and means joined to said oppositeends of the support members for suspending the user's arm therefrom. 2.A shoulder brace according to claim 1, wherein said support members passthrough a flexible sleeve located intermediate the ends of therespective members, said sleeve being adapted to rest on the shoulder ofthe user on said opposite side of the user's torso, whereby the armsuspending means is supported in cantilevered fashion by the torso.
 3. Ashoulder brace according to claim 1, wherein said support members aresecured in spaced relationship at said one side of the user's torso andcross one another as they extend diagonally and upwardly from said ends,said brace further comprising:an adjustment device provided withpassages to receive and selectively retain the respective supportmembers at a location where they cross.
 4. A shoulder brace according toclaims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said suspending means comprises:a support barconnected to said opposite ends of the support members, said support barextending substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axes of thesupport members; and an arm-receiving sleeve suspended from said supportbar.
 5. A shoulder brace according to claim 4, wherein said support baris adjustable in length.
 6. A shoulder brace according to claim 4,further comprising:a handgrip joined to a free end of said support bar.7. A shoulder brace according to claim 6, wherein said support bar isadjustable in length.
 8. A shoulder brace according to claim 6, whereinsaid handgrip comprises a substantially U-shaped member positioned in aplane substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of said support bar,said U-shaped member having an upper leg joined to said support bar anda lower leg adapted to be grasped by a hand associated with the user'ssuspended arm.
 9. A shoulder brace according to claim 8, wherein saidsupport bar is adjustable in length.
 10. A shoulder brace according toclaims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the said one ends of each of the supportmembers are secured to an adjustable length belt surrounding the user'storso.
 11. A shoulder brace according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein saidsupport members are bendable.
 12. A shoulder brace adapted to be securedto a user's torso and configured to permit the suspension of an arm ofthe torso therefrom, said brace comprising:first and secondsubstantially rigid elongated support members; means for securing eachof said members, at one of its ends, to the user's torso at a locationadjacent one side of the torso, said first and second members extendingfrom said ends diagonally upwardly across respective front and backportions of the user's torso to locations at which opposite ends of saidsubstantially rigid members are positioned above and laterally outwardlyof the user's torso on the opposite side thereof; a flexible sleevethrough which said members pass, said sleeve being located intermediatethe ends of the respective members, said sleeve being adapted to rest onthe shoulder of the user on said opposite side of the user's torso; andmeans joined to said opposite ends of the support members for suspendingthe user's arm therefrom.
 13. A shoulder brace according to claim 12,wherein said suspending means comprises:a support bar connected to saidopposite ends of the support members, said support bar extendingsubstantially perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the support members;and an arm-receiving sleeve suspended from said support bar.
 14. Ashoulder brace according to claims 12 or 13, wherein said supportmembers are secured in spaced relationship at said one side of theuser's torso and cross one another as they extend diagonally andupwardly from said ends, said brace further comprising:an adjustmentdevice provided with passages to receive and selectively retain therespective support members at a location where they cross.
 15. Ashoulder brace according to claim 13, wherein said support bar isadjustable in length.
 16. A shoulder brace according to claim 14,wherein said support bar is adjustable in length.
 17. A shoulder braceaccording to claim 13, further comprising:a handgrip joined to a freeend of said support bar.
 18. A shoulder brace according to claim 17,wherein said support bar is adjustable in length.
 19. A shoulder braceaccording to claim 17, wherein said handgrip comprises a substantiallyU-shaped member positioned in a plane substantially normal to alongitudinal axis of said support bar, said U-shaped member having anupper leg joined to said support bar and a lower leg adapted to begrasped by a hand associated with the user's suspended arm.
 20. Ashoulder brace according to claim 19, wherein said support bar isadjustable in length.
 21. A shoulder brace according to claims 12 or 13,wherein the said ends of the support members are secured to anadjustable length belt surrounding the user's torso.
 22. A shoulderbrace according to claim 14, wherein the said ends of the supportmembers are secured to an adjustable length belt surrounding the user'storso.
 23. A shoulder brace according to claims 12 or 13, wherein saidsupport members are bendable.
 24. A shoulder brace according to claim14, wherein said support members are bendable.